Manfred Mann Chapter III

By Steve & Debbie Roots

The end of the sixties Manfred Mann Group in May of 1969 is well documented. Before the band drew to a close Manfred and Mike Hugg had already been experimenting with their own project, Emanon (strange name but 'no name' spelt backwards). Emanon even produced one now much sought after recording, a rare one sided single titled 'The Michelin Commercial Theme'.

The Emanon project and the demise of the sixties band finally allowed Mike and Manfred to play the music that they wanted to play. So was born Manfred Mann Chapter III. The line-up was not dissimilar from that of Emanon. However the music was a big change from the sixties band. Chapter III played Jazz, often gloomily with solo breaks, a different kind of music. Chapter III only recorded Hugg or Mann compositions and purposely did not feature lead guitar.

The large line up and the bad record sales eventually paid its toll and the band disbanded late in 1970. The listeners may not have appreciated the sounds of Chapter III then but as time passed the two LP's have gained more and more credibility. Simply titled Chapter III Volume 1 and Volume 2 the recordings are still available today on CD. Vinyl copies are rare. On the odd occasion that vinyls do appear on Internet auctions they sometimes fetch up to four times the new CD value.

Notable recordings made by Chapter III include 'Travelling Lady' a reworking of the sixties group's successful 'B' side 'A 'B' Side' (the success being its long TV run advertising Manikin cigars). 'Mr You're A Better Man Than I', a Hugg composition already successfully recorded by The Yardbirds, and 'Happy Being Me' the bands first single release and a song that remained in Earthband's live set for some years to follow. Most tracks featured Hugg on vocals although the Volume 2 album did feature a Mann sung track 'One Way Glass'. A song destined later for the Manfred Mann's Earthband album 'Glorified Magnified'. However fans were not prepared for such a huge change in musical direction and still called out for the old hits when the band toured. One hit not forgotten was 'Dylan's' Mighty Quinn. It remained a live favourite. Slowed down and sung mournfully by Hugg the song got a complete re-working. The chorus was sung by the bands backing singers (including a youthful Linda Lewis) and gave at least one part of the audience some part of what they wanted. Although the group's live performances were good, record sales were still poor and 'pushing forward the frontiers of rock music' was going to have to wait.

Mike Hugg and Manfred both went their separate ways and not only Manfred went onto success. Mike Hugg went onto record three studio albums and have chart single success with his theme from 'The Likely Lads' TV show. When Manfred went on to form the Earthband, influences and songs from the Chapter III years went with him. The legacy from Chapter III is just two LP's (recently re-mastered) and some edited singles. One more LP imaginatively titled Volume 3 was recorded but never released. The tapes thought lost for years are now rediscovered. Fans of Chapter III, who still have found no other music quite like it just hope that it may soon be time to release it.

Emanon (line-up)

• Mike Hugg: - Keyboards, Vocals
• Manfred Mann: - Keyboards
• Craig Collinge: - Drums
• Bernie Living: - Saxophone
• Steve York: - Bass

Manfred Mann Chapter III (line-up)

• Mike Hugg: - Keyboards, Vocals
• Manfred Mann: - Keyboards,
• Steve York: - Bass
• Bernie Living: - Saxophone
• Brian Hugg: - Acoustic Guitar
• Craig Collinge: - Drums

Other musicians involved in the two groups included: -
Harold Becket, Clive Stevens, Dave Brooks, Sonny Corbett, Hughie Flint, Dave Coxhill, Chris Slade, Linda Lewis, Conrad Isidore, and Lisa Strike.

UK Discography: -

Singles: -

Emanon

• The Michelin Commercial Theme (Go Radial, Go Michelin)

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